A/N: The next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Mission

One day, Sasori and Deidara were called for a mission. They were inside a dark room with their leader. "Your first mission as partners is to find Orochimaru and teach him his lesson for betraying our organization."

Deidara smirked, "This mission is so simple for a whiz kid like me, un."

Sasori glared at Deidara through Hiruko's eyes, "Don't be an arrogant brat. It sucks."

"Sasori-danna, I will show you what I mean by true art, un." Deidara winked, his hands trembling in excitement.

"Zetsu found Orochimaru's current hideout, near the Kuraii Falls." Pain clarified. He faced Sasori, "You can do whatever you like, since you were his partner. I'll be expecting a good outcome after three days."

"Hai."

The two Akatsuki members found the Kuraii Falls. It was one part of the forest, which has a very high peak. Deidara used his telescope in his left robot eye to find the Orochimaru's hideout. While moving his head from left to right, he saw something, and zoomed his eyes. Far away, there was a small headquarters that seemed to have a bigger interior that was hidden. It was the hideout indeed.

They hid behind the thick bushes to get closer to the hideout. "Sasori-danna, is this the hideout?" Deidara asked. "If it is, let's wait no more and smash them altogether, un!"

Sasori's temper was rising again. He controlled Hiruko's metal tail and positioned it close to Deidara's neck. "If you don't shut up your mouth you brat, I will kill you in no time." Sasori glimpsed at the hideout. There were one, two, three guards outside. Orochimaru set guards to be extra careful. He's getting ready if ever Akatsuki would attack him. A wise decision. That's what I expected from him…

Deidara, who could now move his joints, stared at his danna who was not aware that he could escape. This was the first time Sasori isn't paying attention to his victim.

"Sasori-danna, I'll kill those men so that we could enter the place. Leader-sama had only given us three days to complete this mission and I can't wait to show you what I've got, un." The blonde popped out of the bush and faced the guards.

"No, Deidara!" Sasori shouted. If we attack without planning our actions, we could fail. Orochimaru is not an easy opponent.

"Sasori-danna, I will show you the beauty of my art, un!" Deidara shouted, throwing some explosive clay on each of the guards. There were smoke detectors scattered all over the place, wherein it activates all the other traps when it senses smoke.

Numerous kunais faced Sasori and Deidara. The puppet master didn't have a hard time blocking those because of his metal tail, while Deidara dodged all those. "Idiot! Look what you've just—

While Sasori was paying attention to Deidara, Orochimaru came out and captured him in his jutsu. Sasori could not move his entire body, causing Hiruko to stop blocking the kunais.

"Sasori-danna!"

"Go, brat! Don't mind me, I'll be fine!"

"B-but—

"Go!" Sasori insisted.

The Iwa nin disappeared within the thin clouds. He went to a far place where no one could follow him. "What have I done?!" he blamed himself, punching a tree. "I need to bring Sasori-danna back. He is mine, and no one could hurt him! Un."

Meanwhile, Sasori was brought inside Orochimaru's hideout. He was taken outside Hiruko, and half of his body was still numb. He was locked inside a circle-shaped room with many pillars at the side, which were stuck with torches that colored the room orange. His wrists were chained in the pillar at the middle of the room.

"I knew you have prepared, Orochimaru." Sasori smirked. "You're the same as before, wise and always ready."

Orochimaru stood in front of Sasori and laughed. "It has been a long time, Sasori-san." He slid his hand on Sasori's neck. "I missed you so much, my cute little partner."

Sasori glared at him, "Do not talk to me as if I am your little brother."

Orochimaru smiled, "You haven't changed…still impatient as before." He rested his had on Sasori's left shoulder. "I know you planned to kill me; don't deny."

"You are right." Sasori attempted to free his arms, exerting much power that made his wooden wrist crack. "If this chain was just removed from my wrists, I would kill you right away." Sasori made a fiery glare at his former partner, making his teeth clench in exasperation.

"Here is the key." Orochimaru showed Sasori the key, and then slid it inside his shirt. "But it is not that easy to get it."

Sasori scowled, "If you want me, do not bother anyone else."

Orochimaru knew it was Deidara Sasori was talking about. "Why are you so overprotective of that blonde, Sasori-san? Do you have a relationship with that idiot?" He mocked.

Sasori was surprised with Orochimaru's bare words. He knew he wasn't feeling anything for Deidara, but there was something that bothers him that he couldn't comprehend. "Just don't hurt him or else, I will finish your life." He pulled his wrists again, trying to free from those heavy, rusty chains.

"Sasori-san, you couldn't escape." Orochimaru grinned. "What if I strike your precious talisman and torture you, my dear puppet master?" He punched Sasori's talisman very hard, that blood slowly dripped from Sasori's mouth.

"I feel no pain, Orochimaru. You're wasting your time."

"If you say the word "please" to me, I will not kill that blonde. So, are you going to beg for my conscience?"

Sasori did not want to beg, but it didn't matter since Deidara's life matters the most this time. I hate you brat, but your life is significant for Akatsuki and for… m—

Sasori's words were cut when Orochimaru turned around. He was leaving. "If you don't beg, I'll go outside and find that blonde—

"Please, Orochimaru." Sasori pleaded; his hair was covering his eyes that showed his seriousness. "Please don't kill Deidara. I beg you."

Orochimaru turned back and lifted Sasori's chin. "You will sacrifice everything just for him? You're a bitch, Sasori-san. Why did you do that?"

Sasori's eyes rolled down, his words were shivering in his throat, "It's because…"

"Tell me now!"

"… I love… I care for him! He is very special to me—to us— and I do not know exactly the reason why I'm feeling this. He's special and unique from all the other people around."

Orochimaru suddenly became amused and interested, "You what? You love him?"

Sasori trembled, blaming himself in not being careful with his words, "It's just that… Yes. I do love him."

At that moment, Kabuto entered the room. "Master Orochimaru, the chemicals are boiling and it's time to seal it."

He loosened his grasp. "Sasori-san, we're not done yet." He said. "I will ask you questions, and you give me answers."

The puppet master tilted his head knowing that he couldn't do anything to get out of the room. I hope you're safe, Deidara. Good you weren't here.

Deidara was so worried about Sasori, guilty about the failing of their mission, and most of all, the risk of Sasori's life. But was it late? He jumped off the tree he was sitting on and tightened the hold of his ponytail. The sunlight was nearly vanishing, being replaced by slight darkness with the cool winds from the east. His cheek was aching because of a deep cut made by one of the kunais he had combated earlier. It was hurting as if some acid was burning his metal.

He tried to rinse it with water many times, but it seemed the pain was going back. Well, for now, it doesn't care as long as he saves his danna immediately. "I have to avoid battle and find Sasori-danna in secret, un." He made a huge bird that looked exactly like the one he and Sasori rode before.

The bird flew up high, together with the little birds. Deidara sat on the soft white clay, disturbed by the thoughts about his danna. He knew Sasori would scold him when he sees him, but he decided to bear all those hurting words just to remind him not to put his danna's life in danger. A cold person like Sasori-danna is impossible to worry about me, although he doesn't have an idea where am I now.

It was painful for Deidara to hear the dreadful words of Sasori but he will bear it to avoid conflicts with Sasori again. He never wanted to go farther away from his danna, and wished they could be together. These thoughts had cleared to Deidara about his feelings. Yes, he wanted his danna by his side. It wasn't love yet, but it was care that filled his mind.

Once he arrived at the back of the hideout, Deidara looked around and saw no guards or any traps ready. It was his chance to go quietly inside.

When he entered, he noticed that there was no one walking around. He continued walking and when he turned left, numerous doors met him.

"Where in these doors could Sasori-danna be, un?" He peeped in each of the doors and found no redhead. After looking at every door, he saw a big one at one side of the hideout. It was tall and mysterious. "This is it." he said, making an inward victory dance.

When Deidara opened the door, he first noticed numerous huge pillars, and then saw the most beautiful pillar at the center on the big room. When his eyes slowly looked down, he saw Sasori, chained and looked weak. Deidara went inside quickly and ran towards Sasori. As he gets closer to the redhead, he saw Sasori's emotionless face. "Sasori-danna?"

Sasori was awakened from his deep worries. His eyes moved gradually and stared at Deidara's happy eyes.

"Brat, why did you come?!" He shouted shrilly, making a mad look. Deidara wasn't surprised about this. He knew his danna will scold him for making a reckless move earlier.

Sasori continued speaking harshly, "Go away, stupid brat! In some time, Orochimaru will arrive and if he sees you, you'll die!"

He cares? A smile was then made by Deidara's lips. "Sasori-danna, I came back to save you and to thrash that snake guy down, alright? Just watch me battle with him and be a good boy, un." He tapped Sasori's head, giving a silly smile.

"You don't know what you're saying, Deidara." Sasori made a deep sigh.

"We can fight Orochimaru together, Sasori-danna, un."

Deidara's words struck Sasori's ears that moment. He unconsciously smiled. Together.

A/N: I would like to thank those who reviewed in the past chapters. Thank you very much. Again, I'm asking for your feedbacks. Please do tell and I will completely appreciate it.

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